Aloha Garden of Peace

Living in Hawaii, trying to earn money is hard, and we are not particularly good at it! Here are some ideas…

Most important: 

Be at your post

Be on guard

Be in good humor / good temper

Be ready to work for God

Take Practice calls as Christian Science Practitioners

Take cases as Christian Science Nurses on the Big Island or on the Mainland

Creating a PMA, a Trust, or a non-profit for our property (or all three??)

Sell

microgreens 

bananas

tangerines

cane juice

dried fruit

ulu / breadfruit

dry goods in bulk

seedlings

homemade bread

Rainbow Hearts / AKA You Are Loved clothing

Make, sew, and sell 

hand designed skirts

Deliver

mulch

horse manure

rock

Open our home to other people

renters

campers

vacationers

individuals that need a home (adults or youth sponsored by the state)

Build 

guest home

wedding chapel

certified kitchen

art studio

music studio

dance floor

school / education center 

restaurant

thrift store

book store

Work for someone else such as

in an office in Hilo

for a caregiving company

Other ideas for our property

Grazing horses

Zipline for tourists

Goals

Live in a comfortable home with no debt

Be self sufficient with food

MERRY BABANAS here at the Aloha Garden of Peace!!

We just harvested this rack about an hour ago! It is the fullest and heaviest rack that we have harvested on our property so far.

Two weeks ago, we harvested two racks that needed processing. Instead of freezing them as I usually do, I tried drying them in our Excalibur dehydrator. They turned out great! I am super happy with the results.

From now on, we plan to have some dried bananas on hand for snacks when we are out and for gifts for guests when they come to visit.

Today I was at Pāhoa Second Saturday Music and art walk, my third market this week! I am still considering it as community service as I am not getting paid for the time that I am putting into it, but it is worth it because I love meeting the community members!

Of those 23 trays, I took two (broccoli and specked pea) up to the kitchen for harvesting!

(Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday): Monday, I worked fairly consistently from noon to 2 AM preparing for going to the GE office and the Hakalau Farmer’s Market in the afternoon (today). Redesigned the labels again and printed a few new labels. After midnight, harvested some broccoli and pea shoots, and sent the needed photo to Lorraine/DCCA’s office at 2 AM.

Today: Worked from 6 AM until leaving at 1 PM for Hilo. Didn’t even eat breakfast or lunch until I was in the car driving. Updated the Facebook page, printed more labels; measured seed for 10 trays; emptied the trays that were harvested on Saturday; prepared trays with soil and planted four trays: daikon radish, broccoli, kale, and 5-part salad mix; confirmed about vending at the market, created a FB post, event, and reel about growing the greens and selling today; loaded the car with 7 trays for harvesting at the Farmer’s Market, the cooler, the market box, and two tables; connected with Mark and he drove us to Hilo, finished at the tax office, got to the market as it was starting, THOROUGHLY enjoyed being at the Hakalau Farmer’s Market. Mark and I were the last to leave. I got a haircut after the market was over from a venter who is visiting from Japan. The Market was from 3-5 pm. Mark and I left the market at approximately 7:30 PM and got home at 9 PM.

At the market, there were so many lovely people to meet, and everyone loved my greens! I was pretty busy the whole time and it was helpful to have Mark there to help with money and spread the word that I was there. Even though the Hakalau market is on Tuesday afternoons, they will be having a potluck on Saturday at 3 pm.

Wednesday (today), I planted 6 more trays hoping that they will be ready for Saturday, Sunday, and/or Tuesday events. We will see! I am experimenting with direct sowing instead of soaking the seeds.

Since January, we have been a part of a program called the Puna Entrepreneur Hub. Over the past 6 months, the program, particularly Sylvia Dolena helped us write business plans, reminded us to get the legal stuff taken care of, and helped to launch our businesses. This coming Saturday, most of the entrepreneurs of the program will be sharing about their new businesses at the Puna Kai shopping center from 11 to 2 pm. Then Sunday will be our graduation from the program!

Please check out our new page for all updates, progress pictures, harvesting alerts, etc:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560502185346

See you there!!

I am calling it the Grow Space. I like that better than The Greenhouse. Today, I sowed seed for 9 trays! Then I decided to clear off the entire rack, and Mark helped me lower the top three shelves so that the top shelf was one I could use. With that done, I can now have 16 trays in rotation!! Wahoo!!

Of the trays that I planted today, some will be ready in about a week. Others will take longer. I planted: Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Red Acre Cabbage, Bulls Blood Beets, Detroit Dark Red beets, Purple Sango Radish, Rambo Radish, Fava Beans, Speckled Peas, and Sunflower. I am looking forward to showing pictures of the progress of the Grow Space as a whole and of the microgreens themselves!! Stay tuned!

Much love to all!!

Update photos!! Below are some photos taken today, Monday (day 3)

That’s it for now! Look for more photos in the coming days!